How to Make Agar Plates in the Microwave
Agar is a biological material used by scientists and students to test chemical and biological reactions in a controlled environment, which is the petri dish that houses the agar. One can use a microwave, agar and petri dishes to create agar dishes that can be used in experiments. To begin, you will need agar, petri dishes, access to water, and a microwave as well as some other household materials. Agar is a frequently used substance because it is non-reactive and can be exposed to different biological materials for storage and safe keeping in ways that a traditional, plain petri dish cannot.
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Instructions
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Sterilize the petri dishes by placing them in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes, then allow the dishes to dry on the cooling rack.
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Place the agar into each dish and mix it with the appropriate amount of water. Each different type of agar will require a slightly different amount of water to bring it to its gelatinous form. Pellets of agar may require less water, as it could be packaged inside the pellet, than agar in its pure powder form, which will require relatively more water for it to become gelatinous.
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Place the agar and water-filled petri dishes into the microwave and heat them following the specifications that are included with your agar mixture. Depending on the concentration of agar and water-to-agar ratio, differing heats and cooking times may be required.
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Place the lids of the petri dishes with the agar inside on to each dish after removing them from the microwave and allow them to cool before using them in your science project.
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References
- Photo Credit Bacteria Colonies image by ggw from Fotolia.com
